# Select, status, and their options

_Create, rename, recolour, reorder, and delete the options on a select, multi-select, or status field._

Canonical: https://snoze.dev/help/select-and-status-options/

Three field types carry **options** — a fixed list of named, coloured values
shared by every record on that field:

- **Select** — one option per record
- **Multi-select** — any number per record
- **Status** — one per record, meant as a lifecycle stage

Options belong to the **field**, not to a view or a record. Renaming one renames
it everywhere.

## Adding a status field

1. **Add the field**

   In a table view, click the **`+`** at the right end of the header row and
   choose **Status**.

2. **You already have three options**

   A new status field arrives with **Todo**, **In progress**, and **Done**. Most
   people rename these rather than starting from scratch.

## Creating an option while filling in a record

The fastest way — you never have to leave the record.

1. **Open the field's value**

   Click the cell in a table, or the property in an open record.

2. **Type the name**

   The box says _Select an option or create one_. Type e.g. `In review`.

3. **Create it**

   Click **Create "In review"**, or press **Enter**. The option is added to the
   field and set on this record in one go.

   ![Typing a new option name shows a Create "In review" row in the picker](https://snoze.dev/help-assets/select-and-status-options/create-option.png)

## Managing all the options at once

1. **Open the field editor**

   Click the field's header, then **Edit field**.

2. **Work through the Options list**

   Each row has, left to right: a **drag handle**, a **colour swatch**, the
   **name** (editable in place), and a **delete** button.

   - **Rename** — click the name, type, press Enter or click away.
   - **Recolour** — click the swatch and pick from the palette.
   - **Reorder** — drag by the handle. **Order drives grouping**, so this is the
     order your board columns and grouped sections appear in.
   - **Delete** — the trash icon. Records holding that option lose the value.

   ![The Options list, with a drag handle, colour swatch, editable name and delete button per option](https://snoze.dev/help-assets/select-and-status-options/manage-options.png)

3. **Add one from here**

   Type into the box at the bottom of the Options list and press Enter.

## Naming rules

- Names must be unique within the field, ignoring case — you can't have both
  `Done` and `done`.
- Names are capped at 80 characters.
- Names starting with a number are fine (`1st pass`, `2026 goals`).

## Ordering and grouping

Option order is the single source of truth for section order anywhere the field
is grouped:

- **Board** columns appear in option order.
- **Grouped** table and list sections appear in option order when the group's
  sort is `manual`, which is the default for status fields.

Drag the options into your real lifecycle order — `Todo`, `In progress`,
`In review`, `Done` — and every board and grouped view lines up automatically.

> [!TIP]
> Use **Status** when the values are stages something moves through, and
> **Select** when they're just categories. They behave identically for filtering
> and grouping; the difference is what you mean by them, and Status starting off
> with sensible stages.

## Troubleshooting

**"Status must match one of its configured options."**
The value being saved isn't one of the field's options. This usually means the
option was removed, or renamed, between the record being loaded and saved.
Reopen the record and pick from the current list.

**The option list looks empty.**
You're filtering it — clear the text in the search box at the top of the picker
to see every option again.

See also [Every field type](https://snoze.dev/help/field-types/) and
[Grouping records](https://snoze.dev/help/grouping-records/).